Rack



I a tom13, the back 14,.and the shelves 15,1111

a UNITED-[STATESOFFICE-d tvsmnn N. on enreneo nnron'rstinnmorstnssien'on, B's mnsi'in sssren- L MENTS, r LYON METAL raonuc'rs,meonronnrnng E9180, 9 1

Patented I Au '6 192s.

- con-eonnrronos more. r re ress med muses, iea s. Serial m5. seared p Il in-i:t the This invention relates to sbeetmetalracks or shelving andhas-;for its general object to provide an improved construction comrismg a minimum number ofparts, by whic the shelving-units of thedesiredsize maybe rapidly assembled on disassembled while also providing for awide range of and 3, l4 ;and5)fwhich pro'ect horizontall vvardly" fromthe inside ffaces fll dlvide s t t For the purpose ojf supportingthe-shelvmg at different f levels, the, dividers Aiffiare prov ded each.with superposed horihbhtal rows of horizontally-extending elongatedrapid adjustment of'the shelving at any de-t buvr 2 un chd and bent iromthe main-v d levels. xplanfi'oft edividersandrespectively; r0- toNumerous other objects and advanta es of .LQG mg' i wardly and upwardly,from 3 eir v f the invention will'he a parent as :itis%etter- 1 pttomlines23 qfattachmerit tothe opposite understood from the chewingdescription, :ms de faces tor Surfaces 21nd. the divider iwhich,taken-in connection with the accOm- PI tf S- In the illustrativeembodimentgthe Eanying drawings, discloses a preferred em: SPY Pl I WOf'IOuVreS or supporting pro'ecodiment thereo I i H c A Htions 22are-arranged in verticalas vgeli as 7 Referring to thedrawings': it a ypin horizontal alignment, thereby romoting Figure 1 is a verticalsectional'elevation the y met lapp n fl t e ivd 'r taken ina-front-to-rear'plane of one form of P t -1 Th IOWS bi 'IOHVIGS arespaced rack'unit embodying the invention; 1; iverticallytheminimumjdistance-permitted Fig. 2 is .a horizontal sect'on on the linebetwenanytwo adjacentshelvesa'nd suf- 15 2-2of Fig.1; t a t a ,fic ient1ou vres are prtyided preferabl to Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionalelevation taken permit oi, Wide variation in the levels -oi adi a fromside-to-side or lengthwise of the rack, Justmentof thev shelving. Theextreme botas indicated by the line 33 of Figsgl and 2 tOmroW-QQ :oflouvre's are pnnched and bent Fig.4 is an enlarged fragmentaryverticajfyqwa'rdlyj frinn the main'iplanes of the y c section of the upperpartof the racktakeno IV d JlB im I Y 0 t Q Q but the line 45-4: of Fig.1;; and roje'cttdojwnvvardly fromtheir topflines '25 Y flFig-ifi'san-enlarged fragmenta f attachmentto the divider plates,'.in order intial section of theibottom part ofthe rack takenf ftorprovideforholdingdownjthe bottonr13 f Qontbeline'5 5ofFig.1; fQthejraekt-fl a s5 theillustrative The illustrative-rack provides astructurei dividers 11conyvhereby the to 12, bottom 13,back' 14, and i fstituting the sides orends, the top 12 and bot-, shelves; 15may e madesall substantially uni-,form in structure and dimensions. Each of "these parts maybemadefrom-is sheet metal plate "26 cut to the required dimensions and soformed as to function in theraek eitheras L {SI-nits g n ralconstruction :1 'ii-aek'or shelf comprises '35 made of sheet metal toprovide the structures hereinafter set forth. i i

' The sides of the rack, or dividers 7 each made fromvflat verticalplates and ex- 'after described.) i A At their tops andbottomsythedivider' plates 11 are also preferably provided tvvithflsidewise extending flanging 19and2l) (F gs;

along its front vertical edgewith' flan the rack unit. Each divider isprovided bent to form a bulb fold and then re ent to lie substantiallyflat against the outside face .lorgsurfacell ofthe' divider. Along itsrear vertical, edge,zeaeh divider 11 is formed with vertical fla'nging18 bentxfrom th m i lane ecting inwardly t ere support the back-lief t erack as herein- 1 dicularly to the main planes of y t Yrebent .to li'esubstantiallyyflajt it against the same snrfaceof the platefroin whichtheside" p flanging27projectsigt Atits other end, each p the plateanfa'top, bottom, back orshelfg The htes 26 tend in vertical planes fromfront-to-rear of are provided with flan es: 27 extending alongtheiropposite sidesan bent so as to project in the same j directionsubstantiall e .At onef'end; each -plate"26fis forme with banging 28fbent into-akbulb-fold andjthen plate 26 is formed with Hanging 29- bentsubstantially 'rpendicularlg to the plane of pro'ecting :1; samedirection as t e" sideflanging 27. The

opposite ends-of the side fianging27 are bevelled, a'sfshown at13O fromthe line of bend convergently towa s thefifree ed e act f t s s; 1 5 'tv p s s th 9 at: perpenlates.

erefrom in the thereof may be bevelled oif, as shown at 32.

In constructing a rack unit with the dividers 11 and plates 26 abovedescribed, it is only necessary to provide a pair of divider plates 11for the sides, a pair of lates 26 or the top 12 andbottom 13, a thirplate 26 if it be desired to provide a back 14, and such by slidin .mentwi 'side,flanging 27 of'the top plate 12projects' other plates 26 as maybe-required for: the shelves 15. The top 12,-bottom 13 and'dividersllconstituting the side walls of a unit may be connectedin any convenientsequence the 'top and bottom in interengagethe spaced dividers so thatthe downwardlyinto the spaces between upper rows of louvres'22 atthesame level, and the inside faces '21 of the dividers and the sideflanging 27 of the inverted bottom plate 13 project upwardly inside thebottom rows 24 of reversely projecting louvres. If the top 12' andbottom 13 be applied'to the extreme top and bottom rows of louvres ofthe side dividers, the up er. face or surface of the top 12E'underliesan is-embraced by thetop side ange's 19 of the dividers and the lowerface or surface of the bottom 13 rests upon the bottom side flanging 20.Whenever a back 14- 's employed for the rack unit, one of the plates 26is positioned with the bulb flanging end 28 lowermost and is turnedso'that the side flanging 27 will project forwardly of the unit andinside the inner faces 21 of the divider plates. The back 14 may be slidinto place by lowering it until the bulb flangin 28 is positionedforwardly; of and within t e upstanding end flanging: 29 of the bottom13, and the end flanging 29 of the back rests upon the upper surface of,

the-top 12 and the forward inside face} of the ca acityofthe'rac'k'unit,maybe applied at the evels permitted between the toplandbottom of therack unit.

by the. rows of louvres [The shelves may bera-pidly applied or re- I eillustrative moved by sliding the interengaged side flang- I l ing27within and relatively to an two rows of louvres 22 located at the sameevel at opposite sides of the rack unit. When in posidown structure inwhich the parts may be rapidly assembled or adjusted to variousrequirements, without the employment 0 {any extraneous fastening deviceswhatsoever. Moreover only three structural- 1y different types of partsare required to provide a unit of any predetermined dimensions having awide capacity for various adjustments of shelving. These parts are thetwo dividers which differ from each other only in that the louvres 22and 24 are pressed reversely from the plane of the dividers to providethe right and left sides for the rack unit, and the flanged plates 26all of which are alike and may be employed for either top, bottom, back,or shelving. Although extremely cheap to manufacture because of thesmall number of parts, all of which are made of sheet metal byrelatively simple factory methods, the units when assembled are strongand durable and the parts remain permanently in adjusted position. Thebulb flanging 16 and '28 at the front edges of the dividers, top, bottomand intermediate shelves, provide smooth, rounded surfaces, whicheliminate-sharp corners and avoid tearing of the clothing, or possibleinjury to the articles, in depositing them on or removing them from theshelves.

Such rack units have one important use as shelving under ordinary woodenstore counters, for carrying reserve stocks of the articles displayedupon the counters, They may be assembled readily in units with thedesired length of shelving and the shelving may be adjusted rapidly atlevels to suit the requirements of the articles stored in the racks. 4

It is thought that'the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarran ementof the parts without departing from t e spirit'and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of material advantages, the form'hereinbefore described being merely a ferred embodiment thereof.Moreover, it is not'indispensable that all 'featuresof the invention bevused conjointl as they y be the a k e the an fl n n 2 time:

advantageously employe in; various subgcombinations and othercombinations.

I claim:

' 1. In a sheet metal shelf or rack construc- ',.tion, the combinationwith side divider plates having top and bottom front-to-rear extending,inwardly-proj ecting horizontal flanging, front bulb-fold verticalflanging and rear inwardly-projecting vertical flanging and pro- -videdwith vertically-superposed horizontal rows of horizontally elongatedshelf-supporting louvresprojecting upwardly from the inside faces ofsaid divider plates and with a bottom horizontal row ofreversely-projecting louvres, of a top, bottom, back and shelvingsupported by said divider plates, each comprising a plate havingprojecting side flanging, similarly projecting flangin at one end andbulb-fold flanging at the other end, the top plate and shelving beingarranged with the bulb-fold flanging at the front and sup-- bulb-foldflanging at theifrontandsupportl portabl'ebysliding interengagement ofthe downwardly-pro ectingside Hanging thereof with b saidupwardly-projeeting *louvres, the bottom platebeing turned -reverselywith "re spent to the other plates. but also withthe able upon thebottom hOrizontalflangingbt the divider plates with slidinginterengagement of the side Hanging of the bottom plate with the'reversely-projeoting louvresof the it divider plates,and the back platebeing vertieally positionedat the rear of the rack vvi th l the side.flanging thereof 11 embraced a by the rear vertical Hanging of the]divider plates, with its bulb Hanging atthe bottom embraced by theupwardly-projeoting end flanging of the bottom plate and Withits otherend flang ing embracing the downwardly-projecting endflangingofjthetopplateq t 2. Ina sheet metalbelt or rack construetion,the combinationwith side divider plates vertical flanging andfrontbulb-fold vertical flangin and rovided with horizontalrows ofhorizonta y-elongated shelf-supporting loilvres projecting upwardly fromthe inside faces of said divider plates and l with a bets tomhorizontal-grow of reversely-pz ojeoting louvres, of a top, bottom; baekand shelving supported said divide! plat s, eachcornprising a platehaving side and end flanging and bulb-fold Hanging atthe other end; the

top latea'nd shelving being arranged with the ulb-fold' flanging at thefront and su portable by-slidinginterengagement of the 7 side flangingthereof withsaidupwai'dly projecting louvres, the bottom plate beingturned reversely withrespect to thefother plates but also withthevbulbfo1dhanging at the front and supportableuponthe bottom hofiizo'ntalflangingbtthedivider plates with "sliding interengagement of the sideHanging eeting louvres of thedividerplates, and the Mkplatebeingvertically positioned at the" the top-plate.

tion, the combination with side divider lates' having topand bottomhorizontal a'n rear ,lvertical flanging and front bulb foldvertieal,flap 'ng and rovidedwithrhorizontal rowsfll l' of orizonta lyelongatedshelf-supporting p lon'vres, of a top, bottom, back andshelving 2supported bysaid divider plates; each comprlsing a plate having side andreaf flanging and bnlbfoldflanging at the .front edge, the,

top, bottom and shelving platesbeing arranged with the bulb-foldflangiiigwat the 3. In a sheet metalshelfor rack oonstriiej" {side.flanging thereof engagm the rearflyer tioalflanging of the divider pates, and with said? divider plates, each comprisingl a p side flan ingthereof ,embraeed b a the rear wertioal g in its bulb=fold flangingatthe bracedbythe end flanging-ofthe bottom tesywith ottom emplate andwith its other end flangln'g embracingthe end fiangingof thetop plate.

f 4. In a sheet metal shelf or raek construction, thecombinationwitlfsidedivider plates having top and bottomhorizontal and 1rear verticalflanging and/providedwithupwardlyprojectingshelf-supporting louvres and with.

a bottom row'of reversely-projeeting louvres, of a top, bottom, back andshelving supported b-said divider plates, each comprising a ate havingside and end fianging, the i'top plateand shelving being supportable byslid-v -ing interengagement with said upwardly prm jetting louvres, thebottom platebeingtnfned 7 having top and bottom horizontal andreanreversely \vithrespeotto the other plates and jnalit aaa qslidablv ag aageim istia \lonvres, and the back plate being vertically vres ofthedivider plates; and the back plate being vertically positioned at (therear of the yrackywith 1 the 1 side flangin thereof embraced by therear; vertical flangmg of the rdividen plates, and. with its topflanging embracing the endjflanging'of the top plate anditsbottomflanging embraced by the end flanging of thebottomplate;

a 5. i In a sh et metal shelf oi rack consti'ne-j -tlOIl, thecombination withside divider lates ion having top} and bottomihorizontal an vrear 3 vertical flangin andprovidedwithupwardly-projecting s elf-supporting louvres' and" with a bottom 1 row ofreversel rojecting louvres of a top -ibottom, back an shelving.supported by said divider plates, each coma 1 the top plate andshelving-being supportab by a sliding inter-engagement with said "Limpbeing turned reversely with respect :to; the

. prisinga plate having side and end flangir v e v1watdly-projectinglonvresgthe bottom plate.

other plates and snpportable u onthebottomhorizontal flanging of *thewider plates with: sliding interengagement of the side flanging of thebottom plate with the reversely-projectin louvres: of." the dividerplates, and the "aek plate being vertically positioned at the rear ofthe"rack with the Hanging of the topand bottom p In a sheet metal shelf orraek constrnca top, bottom, back-and s lving supporte late having sideandend flanging, the top,l bottom its top "and bottomflanging' engag ngthe .end

diate shelf-supportingelements, and the rack and shelving plates'beingslidably engageable with said louvres, and the back "plate beinvertically positioned at the rear of the racfi with the side flangingthereof engagin the rear vertical flanglng of the divider p ates, andwith its top andbottom flangi engagllig the end flangingof the top anbottomates. l a v i p 7 Ina sheet metal shelf or rack construction, thecombination with side divider plates T having vertical flanging andprovided with shelf-supporting louvres, of a top, bottom, back andshelving supported by said divider: plates,- each comprising a platehaving side and end flanging, the top,'bottom, and shelv I ing latesbein v slidably enga eable with said ouvres, an the back plate eingverti cally os-itioned atthe rear of. the rack'with the si e .flangin'g1 thereof-engaging: the rear vertical Hanging of the fdivider plates,"and with its top and bottom flanging engaging the end flanging. ofthe top .and bottom plates,- --'8., In asheet metal shelf or rackconstruc- I -tionf.thicombinationj with flanged divider plates? provided,with' shelf-supporting 'louv'res;'of; thelto bottom. and intermediaterackshelvingl-an the back of the rack, constructed' of structurallyuniform plates havr ing side flangingj engageable interchangeablywithtlie'dividerilouvres'v or divider flanging and end-flangingengageable mutually with i j the end flanging of other similar plates.

'9. A sheet metal; rack construction comprisin side plates providedwith-interim; diate s elf supporti'n -eIeme'nts,-and the top, bottom and.interme late racksheIvi and:

the back of the rack, constructed of struct1 1r-' 'fallyuniform.plates-the sides of which 1 are engageable interchangeablywiththe shelf-'" 49.

plates and the ends {of which are engageable;

ads of other s milar 10. A sheetm'etal; iii-e15 sasgtc't sai-eta:=prising side plates provided;w1th: interme-..

shelving and c osure platesmade of uniform- 3 construction includinside? and-rear edge. 'fi an ging engageable lnter'changeably with theshelf-supporting elementsor edges of the side or other plates of therackg 11'. A sheet metal helf iraeki "c'omprising side platesprovided-withinwar'dly. extending struck out shelf supportinglouvers,=aplurality of shelves extending betweensaid spaced u rightsand'cai'riedinsaid louvers, said uprights and said shelves having their. forward edgesprovided with a bulb-foldand their sides and rear edges provided'without-- 9 standing flanges, the side flanges of'the' shelf membersinterlocking with the shelf support I ing louvers of the uprights, andaback memher for the shelf ha'vin outwardly extending flanges formedalong its top and side edges,

supporting. elements or edges of h and a bulb-fold extendin along itsbottom edge, and the side edges 0 said back member interfitting withinthe rear flan ed edges of g bottom for the side members and a top an theshelfrack comprising shelf members having, respectively, downwardl andupwardly extendin lateral flanges a ong their rear ed es, said flangeshavm detachable inter- 100 in -engagement witht erear member.

shelf rack-beingpr'ovided "with a vertical series of shelf supportinglouvers, said top and bottom members having their side flangesdetachably engaging in the uppermost and low- I ermost louvers,respectively, of the side members, and said back member fitting withinthe rear'edges of the side wall members.--

13. A sheet metal shelf rack comprising,

side, top, bottom and rear walls comprising substantially rectangularsheet metal members having inwardly extending flan es along each sideand one end, the side wal s of the shelfrack being provided with avertical seriesof shelf-supporting lout'ers,.said top and bottom membershaving their side flanges detachabl engaging in the uppermost andlowermost ouvers, respectively,.of.the side members and said back memberfitting within therear edges of the side wall members, the rearmost e geof thetop member being interlocked wlthin the inwardly extending flangein the upper edge of the back member.

14. In a sheet metal shelf rack construction, the combination of a pairof spaced l apart shelf supporting plates provided with "inwardly. extening flanges along their up er andlowe'r edges, struck out louvers formin said shelf supporting plates in spaced rela- Itionship from saidflanges, a top shelf arranged for interlocking engagement at its opposededges between the upper flanges of said shelf supporting plates intoadjacent struck outlouvers thereof.

"J15; In va sheet metal shelf rack construc-.

tion, the combination of. a pair of spaced apart shelf supporting platesprovided with inwardly extending flanges along their'upperand loweredges, struck out louvers formed in said shelf supporting'plates inspaced relationshi ranged fer interlocking engagement atits opposededges between the upper flanges of said shelf supporting plates intoadjacent from said flanges, a top shelf arstruck out louvers thereof,and a bottom shelf arranged for interlockin engagement at its opposededges between t e lower flanges of said shelf supporting plates and theaforesaid struck out louvers thereof.

' WALTER N. VANCE.

